YouTube has been a popular platform for content creators to share their videos and earn money for years. For most of YouTube's history, the classic video format has remained the same.
However, YouTube Shorts has opened up new opportunities for content creators to monetize their videos and earn money. With the ability to create short-form videos with music, filters, and text overlays, YouTube Shorts is gaining popularity among both creators and viewers.
Many wonder if they can make money from this new short-form video feature. In this article, we will explore the monetization requirements for YouTube Shorts and how you can start earning money from this new feature. We'll also introduce IFTTT, our free automation service that has been helping creators around the globe maximize profit from YouTube.
What are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts is a short-form video feature introduced by YouTube, allowing users to create and share videos that are 60 seconds or less in duration. Similar to other platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, Shorts is designed for quick, engaging content in a vertical format optimized for mobile devices.
The feature comes with a set of creation tools, including a multi-segment camera for combining clips, a timer for hands-free recording, and basic editing features. Users can enhance their Shorts with music from a diverse library provided by YouTube.
To promote Shorts content, YouTube has a dedicated tab, making it easier for viewers to discover and enjoy short-form videos on the platform. YouTube Shorts is currently available in over 100 countries and is rapidly gaining popularity among content creators and viewers.
How long are YouTube Shorts?
It goes without saying that YouTube Shorts are shorter than a typical video. These short-form videos are typically limited to 60 seconds in duration. YouTube Shorts are designed to be quickly consumed and shared, catering to the growing trend of short-form content on various social media platforms.
How to make a YouTube Short
Creating a YouTube Short is simple and can be done directly from your mobile device. Here's how:
- Open the YouTube app on your mobile device.
- Tap on the "+" icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Select "Create a Short".
- Record or upload a video of up to 60 seconds.
- Add music, filters, and text to your video.
- Preview and publish your YouTube Short.
Can you monetize YouTube Shorts?
The short answer is yes, you can monetize YouTube Shorts. As of 2022, YouTube announced that YouTube Shorts would follow in the footsteps of their longer-form videos, and creators could cash out on their viral Shorts. However, the process of making money with Shorts is a little more tricky.
Firstly, there are certain requirements that need to be met before you can start earning money from your Shorts.
Monetization requirements for YouTube Shorts
To monetize your YouTube Shorts, you must meet the following requirements:
- Your channel must be a part of the YouTube Partner Program.
- Your channel must have at least 1,000 subscribers.
- Your channel must have at least 4,000 hours of watch time in the past 12 months.
- Your channel must comply with YouTube's Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.
If your channel meets these requirements, you can start earning money from your YouTube Shorts through ads.
YouTube Shorts ads
YouTube Shorts ads are short video ads that appear in between Shorts videos. These ads are similar to the ads that appear in regular YouTube videos and can be skipped after 5 seconds. Creators earn a portion of the ad revenue generated from their Shorts videos.
To be eligible for YouTube Shorts ads, your channel must meet the monetization requirements mentioned above. Additionally, your Shorts videos must also meet some basic criteria, such as video length, content, and audience engagement. YouTube's algorithm will determine which Shorts videos are eligible for ads based on these factors.
It is important to note that not all Shorts videos will have ads. YouTube's algorithm will determine which Shorts videos are eligible for ads based on factors such as video length, content, and audience engagement.
How does YouTube decide how much to pay each creator? Here is the process:
First, YouTube will collect all of the ad revenue made in a given period from all YouTube Shorts. Next, they have to pay licensing fees to all of the musical artists and creators who make the sounds and songs used in Shorts.
YouTube will then break up the rest of revenue by country. Finally, they pocket 55% of the remaining revenue and you get 45%.
Other ways to monetize YouTube Shorts
Aside from ads, there are other ways to monetize your YouTube Shorts. These include:
Fan funding
One interesting way to cash in on the popularity of YouTube Shorts in through fan funding. For committed Shorts creators, the two most relevant forms of fan funding are Super Thanks and channel memberships.
Super Thanks:
Super Thanks is a feature that allows viewers to show extra support to a content creator by making one-time monetary contributions for individual videos.
Viewers can purchase Super Thanks during or after watching a video by clicking on the dollar sign button next to the like and dislike buttons. The contribution amount may vary, and viewers can choose from different predefined amounts. The Super Thanks message appears as a colorful comment in the video's comment section, giving the viewer recognition for their support.
Channel Memberships:
Channel Memberships are a subscription-based feature that lets viewers support their favorite creators on an ongoing basis by subscribing to their channel for a monthly fee.
Creators can offer various perks to their channel members, such as exclusive badges, emojis, access to members-only content, or special community features.
Viewers who become channel members often receive a badge that distinguishes them in the comments section, and they can use custom emojis that the creator provides for members. The revenue generated from channel memberships provides creators with a more predictable and steady income stream compared to one-time contributions.
Sponsorships and brand deals
As your Shorts videos gain popularity, you may start receiving sponsorship offers from brands. These can range from product placements in your videos to sponsored content. You can also reach out to brands yourself and offer to feature their products in your Shorts videos for a fee.
Merchandise sales
If you have a loyal fan base, you can also monetize your Shorts videos through merchandise sales. You can create and sell merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, or phone cases with your branding or catchphrases from your Shorts videos.
Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is another way to earn money from your Shorts videos. You can include affiliate links in your video descriptions or use the YouTube Shorts swipe-up feature to promote products or services and earn a commission for every sale made through your link.
How to make the most money possible on Shorts
Now that you know the different ways to monetize your YouTube Shorts, here are some tips to help you maximize your earnings:
Consistency is key
Consistency is crucial when it comes to building a following on YouTube. This applies to Shorts videos as well. Try to post Shorts videos regularly, whether it's daily, weekly, or bi-weekly. This will help keep your audience engaged and increase your chances of earning money from ads.
Engage with your audience
Engaging with your audience is essential for building a loyal fan base. Respond to comments on your Shorts videos and ask for feedback or suggestions for future videos. This will not only help you improve your content but also make your audience feel valued and more likely to support you.
Promote your Shorts videos
Don't rely solely on YouTube's algorithm to promote your Shorts videos. Share them on your other social media platforms and encourage your followers to check them out. You can also collaborate with other creators to cross-promote each other's Shorts videos.
Optimize video titles and descriptions
Craft compelling and descriptive titles for your Shorts videos. Use keywords that are relevant to your content to enhance discoverability. Similarly, write engaging and concise video descriptions that provide additional context about the video.
Create eye-catching thumbnails
Design visually appealing thumbnails that grab viewers' attention. A compelling thumbnail can significantly increase click-through rates and attract more viewers to your Shorts videos.
Utilize hashtags
Incorporate relevant hashtags in your video descriptions to increase visibility. Hashtags can make your Shorts videos discoverable beyond your immediate subscriber base, potentially reaching a larger audience.
Participate in YouTube challenges and trends
Stay updated on the latest YouTube challenges and trends. Participating in popular challenges or creating content around trending topics can attract more viewers to your Shorts and increase your chances of going viral.
Optimizing profit with IFTTT and Shorts
One effective way to optimize your profit with YouTube Shorts is by leveraging the power of IFTTT (If This Then That). IFTTT is our free automation service that allows you to create custom workflows, or applets, that connect over 800 different platforms and services.
By integrating IFTTT with your YouTube Shorts, you can automate tasks such as sharing your Shorts videos on social media, sending notifications to your subscribers, or even tracking your earnings. These automations can save you time and effort, allowing you to focus on creating more engaging content and maximizing your revenue potential.
Founded in 2011, IFTTT has been used by over 25 million individuals to automate both business and home tasks, saving time and increasing efficiency. It's commonly used to connect disparate services and systems, making all products and services work well together in a way that instills user confidence. Best of all, it's free and only takes a couple of minutes to set up.
Join IFTTT today for free and see for yourself why we are the most trusted automation platform by content creators worldwide.
Top YouTube Applets with IFTTT
Add songs from videos you like to a Spotify playlist
This Applet will search the title of the video on Spotify — if it finds the track, it'll add it to a "YouTube" playlist. Not all songs on YouTube are available on Spotify, but many are. Happy tune hunting!
Automatically share your new videos to a Facebook Page
Keep your communities in sync with this easy-to-use Applet — when you upload a new public video the link will be posted on your Facebook Page.
Publish your new videos as Wordpress posts
Grow your audience by cross-posting your videos automatically — this Applet will grab the embed code and post it on WordPress. The title of the blog will be the title of the video.
Receive a notification when someone you're subscribed to uploads a new video
Never miss an upload by all of your favorite creators! This Applet will send out a notification if someone you are following posts a video.
To enable these Applets and millions more (yes, millions), try IFTTT today for free!
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Can you make money from YouTube shorts? A monetization guide
February 09, 2024
